As we come out of the election season, and go into another month of tight, tense counts at the local registrar of voters office, Veterans Day offers a chance to stop and reflect on our freedoms as well as those who have sacrificed to ensure our way of life. Today, Orange County’s state fairgrounds in Costa Mesa hosts the annual commemoration where people can visit the Hero’s Hall museum as well as the walk of honor featuring plaques that tell the stories of more than three-dozen war heroes from Orange County.
Category: Norberto Santana Jr.
Columns by Norberto Santana Jr., Voice of OC’s publisher, on Orange County government, public records and the habits of the people who run the county. He has written this column since the newsroom started.
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Could Rivalry Among Vietnamese American, Republican Elected Officials Throw Central OC to Dems?
While congressional races have dominated the media landscape this year, one race in Central Orange County, the 34th State Senate, is more competitive than usual but under the radar. Could rivalries among Vietnamese American Republicans shift the balance of power in Sacramento?
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Fight Fake News, Fund Local News
Starting today, through the end of the year, the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation leads a coalition of national foundations spurring local community members to invest in nonprofit newsrooms, launching News Match – where the foundation coalition matches local donations to nonprofit newsrooms.
Posted inAnaheim, Norberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Confronting Corporate Cronyism in Anaheim
Mayor Tom Tait earlier this year hoped for a happy ending to the Disney film called Anaheim after resort executives turned back public subsidies saying they favored a cleaner public dialogue. Yet recent campaign finance documents show PACS tied to resort and hotel interests are back playing a nasty brand of political hardball in the race to elect Anaheim’s next mayor.
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Orange County, Democracy Now
With just over two weeks to Election Day, national focus continues to intensify on OC Congressional Races and places like Anaheim. Amy Goodman & Democracy Now are among the first media on the ground, visiting Soka University in Aliso Viejo tonight and broadcasting Thursday from Valley High School in Santa Ana. On Oct. 30, Voice of OC also partners with the New York Times, KPCC Radio and Chapman University for a public forum on the upcoming historic congressional battles in Orange County.
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Democratic Defections Raise Questions For OC Supervisors Race, 39th Congressional District
Democratic Congressman Lou Correa is making waves by backing a Republican in a hotly contested campaign for Fourth District County Supervisor. The move raises questions about a potential impact on the contest for the 39th Congressional District.
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Protecting Public Safety
With public safety pensions rising, driving several sales tax increases in several Orange County cities, residents and office seekers need to start asking themselves about social investments that enhance public safety but aren’t within the local police department budget.
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: News Transparency Matters
Voice of OC today joins more than 120 news sites around the world showing the Project’s Trust Indicators battling misinformation and bolstering a new standard for journalism that allows readers to judge the transparency of news organizations.
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Columbus Day or Indigenous People’s Day?
Given Orange County’s longtime, official fervor for ideological debates on issues like immigration along with this year’s competitive congressional campaigns, it’s surprising that the question of city recognitions of Columbus vs. Indigenous People’s Day hasn’t yet hit the city council dais.
Posted inNorberto Santana Jr.
Santana: Could Vietnamese American Political Rift Affect the 34th State Senate and 48th Congressional District Races?
The intense rivalry between State Senator Janet Nguyen, who faces re-election this year, and County Supervisor Andrew Do has some wondering whether the spat could impact turnout in local and congressional races. Nguyen has called on GOP leaders to quiet Do.
